The Good Old-World Charm

They’re imprinted in our minds and forever tattooed in our memories—the murals that cover two walls of Café Mondegar that renowned cartoonist Mario Miranda drew back in the 1990s. We’ve all sniggered at some of those doodles while waiting for the minuscule amount of time it takes for the beer to be brought to the table, in between bar bites and steaks, and in a drunk state, sobering up just enough to pay the bill. Until a little less than two years ago, this Colaba institution was the only place to enjoy Miranda’s massive murals. Then came The Good Wife and changed the scene. It produced its own version of a cheeky and fun mural strongly reminiscent of the one at Mondegar. I’m not complaining, nor am I comparing, instead I’m complimenting the Tham brothers on bringing us a slice of SoBo closer.

The Good Food and Dessert

Alongside the mural are wooden accents and chandeliers that provide a warm ambience to enjoy unique cocktails fashioned by Dimitri Lezinska, the co-host of Discovery Channel’s Cocktail Kings. Try the Mango Sangria, a lovely spin on the Mediterranean delight, or the bar’s namesake, The Good Wife that combines vodka, Campari, passion-fruit syrup and muddled raspberries. Pair the beverages with the Smoked Scarmorza Tostadas, Grilled Chicken Kathi Roll, Black Truffle and Chicken Ravioli, and Corn and Jalapeno Sliders, among several other delectable dishes. But the highlight of a visit here is the dessert. The server brought the Chocolate Mistress, a chocolate sphere, to the table and poured hot caramel on the sphere. As the chocolate began to melt at the joints, the sphere opened up like an elegant day lily, revealing a gooey mess—mini brownies, ice cream and fresh fruit segments—giving me one more reason to return.